Guest Reviews

We have rented this home in Captiva twice now, once in January 2017 and once in May 2017. We had a larger group of 12 people in January and a smaller group in May.
It is an excellent value for the amount of space (never felt crowded), for the amenities (ping-pong, pool table, heated pool and hot tub on ground floor, roof top deck and a second hot tub, outdoor gas grill with table for six with umbrella, beach umbrellas, chairs and a beach cart, extra refrigerator and freezer downstairs, washer and dryer), and for the proximity within walking distance to the beach and multiple restaurants.
The elevator was appreciated especially by the elderly in our group. It is a fun house for little kids with lots of play space and for young adults and teenagers. We rented a golf cart in January, but ended up mostly walking everywhere. We only had on small car in January and made one trip for groceries, and then added some odds and ends at the island store.
Favorite aspects: quiet residential neighborhood, but close to everything, walking everywhere (beach, restaurants, stores, church, up and down the island for exercise), rooftop pizza (carry out) and drinks one evening, mornings and evenings on the screened-in lanai overlooking the pool.
We are experienced home renters in Florida as our family has rented homes in multiple locations in Florida including: Lido Key, Siesta Key, Longboat Key x 3 and now Captiva x 2. We expect to return here and are keeping an eye on the calendar.

My family of six stayed at the Captiva Shores Condo, unit 4B for a week. I have to say, beforehand, that Kingfisher Vacations representative Paola was very supportive and responsive from reservation day to check-in. I had all my questions answered in a timely matter. We just had three issues on the first day. We struggled to get the WiFi username and password, which was different from the one given during reservation. We also struggled with getting the kayak we rented for the whole week, but finally got it a few hours later with no problems. Finally, I found out that the master bedroom had an A/C connected to the window to make the room cooler, but this A/C doesn't allow the window to close at all. We had to use a duvet to cover the window and get some privacy. We understand that this condo is from 1981, but I would recommend the owner to address this issue, so guests are able close this window and get privacy and security. Otherwise, I would suggest Kingfisher Vacations to update the master room photos on its website, so everyone is aware of this issue.
Apart from these details, we had a terrific stay at this unit. We got plenty of cutlery and kitchen tools for all our meals and overall the house is really nice. This was our first stay at Captiva, and we had a blast!! People from the island are so smiley and fun, that we felt more like neighbors, than tourists. Be prepared to see plenty of wildlife, including sharks, wild rabbits, cardinals, dolphins and stingrays the whole time.

This unit 4 condo was a great get away for us for the week. Being right on the beach was beautiful.. What we really liked was that it had a retractable wall between the master bedroom and living room. We left it open the whole time as it made the condo feel so much bigger with fantastic views. Sandy Bend condos are a definite hidden gem

This unit 4 condo was a great get away for us for the week. Being right on the beach was beautiful.. What we really liked was that it had a retractable wall between the master bedroom and living room. We left it open the whole time as it made the condo feel so much bigger with fantastic views. Sandy Bend condos are a definite hidden gem

This was a great vacation spot! 3 couples stayed, the beds were comfortable and very clean. Captiva is in walking distance. The beach you can see from the porch, we would sit out there for coffee in the mornings. Beaches were never crowded. Vey relaxing and peaceful! Highly recommended!

This was a great vacation spot! 3 couples stayed, the beds were comfortable and very clean. Captiva is in walking distance. The beach you can see from the porch, we would sit out there for coffee in the mornings. Beaches were never crowded and right across the street! Vey relaxing and peaceful! Highly recommended!

We enjoyed this villa very much with our family during Thanksgiving week 2016. We used the pool and hot tub daily which was very clean and comfortably heated. The beach chairs and umbrella provided were easy to take to the beach with the wagon provided. The sunsets were amazing to see from the porch and on the beach. We used the dock on the bay to fish and caught fish every day. We were very comfortable in this home and by the end of the week we felt like it was our own. We are already recommending this villa to our friends and family. Thank you for a lovely stay and an unforgettable vacation.

This was a wonderful home with all of the amenities of our own home. Beautiful views of the gulf and an easy walk to the bay. The kitchen was equipped for nightly meals with no problems. We were given a wagon full of chairs, umbrellas and other toys to be enjoyed at the beach along with beach towels. We are definitely coming back next year!!

There were 9 people in our party, 3 generations varying from 65 to 6 years old. The only reason I gave this a 4 is because the house needs a lot of TLC. Mostly minor things that didn't really keep you from having a good time. The setting was absolutely stunning! We saw all kinds of fish from the dock and it must be great for fishing because there would be someone in a boat fishing there almost every night. If we were sitting on the dock they would usually move off a short distance. We saw many birds, manatee and dolphin from the dock. It was a pleasant surprise to discover there were 3 kayaks and a canoe for our use. Unfortunately only 1 paddle. Kingfisher brought more. I don't recall how many life vests there were as we had brought vests for the grandchildren and a couple adult sized too. Altogether, we had plenty for our group. Future guests may want to check this out or bring their own. We spent a lot of our time in these kayaks viewing the various and bountiful wildlife. There were a few times that we were probably within 5 feet of dolphins or manatee! The canoe was not useable, there were no seats! Another surprise was the housetop deck! Beautiful views of the ocean and Blind Pass! Meant to watch a sunset from there, but always seemed to be doing something else. The beach is truly just a short walk across the street! The master bedroom and bath are absolutely HUGE! My husband loved that there was a 3 car garage were we could keep the cars out of the sun. There is a trundle bed in the recreation room. Two of the bedrooms cannot be accessed from inside the house. You have to go onto the deck or in a separate entrance. One of the bathrooms is outside at the pool. The fireplace did not work. There was no beach wagon and Kingfisher said they had none available. They did bring beach umbrellas when they brought the paddles. And we later noticed that a beach umbrella was being used as deck umbrella at the outdoor table, if you need a 3rd. I don't believe the amenities listed the foosball table in the rec room, although it is visible in the pictures. There were balls for the foosball and ping pong tables. Plenty of pool cues, but they were all missing tips. Some of the showerheads did not work, but there were multiple heads in those showers. We had plenty of hairdryers, but there was not 1 in every bathroom as indicated. There were some lights that didn't work, but there were so many lights that we just used a different one. There were so many light switches that it was difficult to find the right one. The igniters on the stove didn't work, so be sure to have one of those long handled lighters. Lots and lots of utensils, plates and glasses. Plenty of pots and pans. No pizza pans or 9X13 pans for cakes, casseroles or desserts. We bought and left a 9X13. Need rubber spatulas, egg turners, measuring cups and spoons. There are 2 refrigerators in the kitchen, a mini fridge and microwave in the master bedroom and in one of the bedrooms on the main floor. Deck tiles become VERY hot in the sun! Be sure to have flip flops at the pool to get back upstairs or go through the rec room. Sliding doors were very hard to open and close. Grandchildren couldn't and I broke a couple of nails because they wouldn't slide. I'm sure it was all the sand build up in the tracks. Cleaning staff need to address that each week. It is after all a beach house. Sand is going to be an issue. The only problem that was anything more than an annoyance, was that some of the sliders would not lock. I assume that this too was because of sand buildup.

There were 9 people in our party, 3 generations varying from 65 to 6 years old. The only reason I gave this a 4 is because the house needs a lot of TLC. Mostly minor things that didn't really keep you from having a good time. The setting was absolutely stunning! We saw all kinds of fish from the dock and it must be great for fishing because there would be someone in a boat fishing there almost every night. If we were sitting on the dock they would usually move off a short distance. We saw many birds, manatee and dolphin from the dock. It was a pleasant surprise to discover there were 3 kayaks and a canoe for our use. Unfortunately only 1 paddle. Kingfisher brought more. I don't recall how many life vests there were as we had brought vests for the grandchildren and a couple adult sized too. Altogether, we had plenty for our group. Future guests may want to check this out or bring their own. We spent a lot of our time in these kayaks viewing the various and bountiful wildlife. There were a few times that we were probably within 5 feet of dolphins or manatee! The canoe was not useable, there were no seats! Another surprise was the housetop deck! Beautiful views of the ocean and Blind Pass! Meant to watch a sunset from there, but always seemed to be doing something else. The beach is truly just a short walk across the street! The master bedroom and bath are absolutely HUGE! My husband loved that there was a 3 car garage were we could keep the cars out of the sun. There is a trundle bed in the recreation room. Two of the bedrooms cannot be accessed from inside the house. You have to go onto the deck or in a separate entrance. One of the bathrooms is outside at the pool. The fireplace did not work. There was no beach wagon and Kingfisher said they had none available. They did bring beach umbrellas when they brought the paddles. And we later noticed that a beach umbrella was being used as deck umbrella at the outdoor table, if you need a 3rd. I don't believe the amenities listed the foosball table in the rec room, although it is visible in the pictures. There were balls for the foosball and ping pong tables. Plenty of pool cues, but they were all missing tips. Some of the showerheads did not work, but there were multiple heads in those showers. We had plenty of hairdryers, but there was not 1 in every bathroom as indicated. There were some lights that didn't work, but there were so many lights that we just used a different one. There were so many light switches that it was difficult to find the right one. The igniters on the stove didn't work, so be sure to have one of those long handled lighters. Lots and lots of utensils, plates and glasses. Plenty of pots and pans. No pizza pans or 9X13 pans for cakes, casseroles or desserts. We bought and left a 9X13. Need rubber spatulas, egg turners, measuring cups and spoons. There are 2 refrigerators in the kitchen, a mini fridge and microwave in the master bedroom and in one of the bedrooms on the main floor. Deck tiles become VERY hot in the sun! Be sure to have flip flops at the pool to get back upstairs or go through the rec room. Sliding doors were very hard to open and close. Grandchildren couldn't and I broke a couple of nails because they wouldn't slide. I'm sure it was all the sand build up in the tracks. Cleaning staff need to address that each week. It is after all a beach house. Sand is going to be an issue. The only problem that was anything more than an annoyance, was that some of the sliders would not lock. I assume that this too was because of sand buildup.

Tranquility lies up a shady driveway into Secret Harbour, a home located at the confluence of two canals leading to Dinkens Bayou, a waterway to Blind Pass and out to Pine Island Sound. The canal banks are covered by mangrove and the property is ringed with an abundance of palm trees, flowering plants, including red and yellow hibiscus around the pool deck. A wooden dock and boat lift provide a place to drop a line to catch and release the abundant catfish or to launch the bright yellow tandem kayak for a paddle to the Bayou and beyond.
There is little noise, save the occasional sound of a boat (Mako, Grady White, Century) taking a crew to fish or sightsee beyond the canals. Kayaks and paddleboards often glide by the property as well. There are the sounds of “plunk/splash” as fish break the water and sometimes a meandering dolphin plies the canals fishing for its breakfast. The other sounds come from the many birds which can be seen from the decks of the house. Osprey, pelicans, herons, egrets, ibis, morning doves, sea gulls and woodpeckers were common during our stay.
The home is an open plan, with sliding glass windows that open the living area onto the covered wooden deck where you can while away time reading, sunning, dining and drinking , or walk down the outside stairs to the lower deck. There is also a propane grill for barbecuing your favourite meals on the upper deck. The home has a large and inviting solar heated swimming pool, with ample sitting room and all completely enclosed by screens, keeping you free of insects and the pool clear of leaves and debris. Landscape and pool maintenance folks appear weekly to keep the grounds and pool in first class condition.
Off the main living area is a master bedroom with comfortable king bed, large closets and doorway into the master bathroom with walk in shower and a large tub and double sinks. The living room has two sofas and cable television with Bose sound equipment and two overhead fans. The dining room table easily accommodates six persons and the large island has seating for three as well. All the appliances are modern and there are ample kitchen tools, pots, pans, dishes and cutlery. There is excellent wi fi and cable connections for those who want to be entertained (although you might prefer to access the books on display for peaceful sitting and sunbathing during the day).
A stairway leads up to a small balcony overlooking the main floor and an entryway to the second bedroom which enjoys its own full bathroom. It has a queen bed, a television and ceiling fan. The third bedroom has two twin beds and television with a sitting area. Located on the ground floor, it has access directly onto the pool deck.
It is a treat to have access to the beaches at Blind Pass a short walk or bike ride. There a three terrific restaurants which are just as accessible, the famed Mad Hatter, our favourite the Sunset Grill, and for old Florida ambience, seafood and beer, the Lazy Flamingo. A trip up to Captiva also has the benefit of fun restaurants: Mucky Duck, Key Lime Bistro, Doc Fords, Captiva House, a Mexican Cantina and the popular Greenflash, with its patio overlooking the Sound, to name a few. The Island Store saves the drive down into Sanibel, has a decent wine selection (and great key lime pie) with the best tomatoes in Florida. There is a bank next to the post office and an array of shops to visit. You can arrange a fishing charter (we always rely on Captain Shawn Kelly) at Jensens, rent a boat at Tween Waters or take the Lady Chadwick which sails daily to Cabbage Key and Useppa Island with a running commentary on the waterways and history of these barrier islands, often with a pod of dolphins surfacing to put on a show. Last but not least are the fabulous sunsets over the Gulf, a sight not to be missed.
To top off an evening, there is also a firepit to roast marshmallows, make s’mores or to give you a chance to look at the canopy of stars overhead.
If you have the opportunity to stay at Secret Harbor and to enjoy the best of Sanibel and Captiva in a charming location with attentive owners and an experienced management company, you will have a relaxing and rewarding vacation experience.

We stayed a week in this wonderful condo with our family of 6 (kids in their 20's). We loved the quiet, private and peaceful setting, not to mention the gorgeous, updated decor of this condo. The unimpeded, corner view is spectacular!!! Attention to detail in the condo was 5 star, down to the new, high quality, firm mattresses!
We then extended a few more days at South Seas on Captiva (yes, we had stayed there several times before and knew what to expect but our options were limited), and entered a world of high-density and extremely loud! It is amazing how an older, saggy mattress can prompt you to write a review, and this is what we had at South Seas.
Janthina is on West Gulf Drive which is quiet and walking distance to Island Inn and Sand Bar both excellent restaurants, and close to Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge. I would not hesitate to rent at Janthina......it is truly a hidden Gem!

We stayed a week in this wonderful condo with our family of 6 (kids in their 20's). We loved the quiet, private and peaceful setting, not to mention the gorgeous, updated decor of this condo. The unimpeded, corner view is spectacular!!! Attention to detail in the condo was 5 star, down to the new, high quality, firm mattresses!
We then extended a few more days at South Seas on Captiva (yes, we had stayed there several times before and knew what to expect but our options were limited), and entered a world of high-density and extremely loud! It is amazing how an older, saggy mattress can prompt you to write a review, and this is what we had at South Seas.
Janthina is on West Gulf Drive which is quiet and walking distance to Island Inn and Sand Bar both excellent restaurants, and close to Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge. I would not hesitate to rent at Janthina......it is truly a hidden Gem!